Mental Health Provision

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:45 pm on 13 June 2023.

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Photo of Mark Drakeford Mark Drakeford Labour 1:45, 13 June 2023

(Translated)

I thank Adam Price for that supplementary question. He reflects what Joyce Watson has said already. Of course, I acknowledge the fact that, when services change, that does lead to concerns among some people, particularly those who have accessed the service that is already there.

But the purpose of creating a robust cluster with direct funding that goes straight to them is to provide them with the ability to make decisions. That's the purpose of what we have been developing for a number of years now, and for me, it is important to give that flexibility to local people who are close to the communities that they serve, to use the funding and the budgets that they have in a way that they assess will be effective in future.

I'm sure that the Minister will be able to speak, when she is down in Hywel Dda, with the health board about what is happening in Garnant. It's important to me to adhere to the principle whereby the decisions are made by the people on the ground, with all of the information that they have about local need, and what the most effective way is to respond to those needs.  

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